Kaupapa Māori health providers in Te-Matau-a-Māui (Hawke's Bay) say whānau can now get immediate mental health support, instead of having to jump through hoops.
From left Andre LeGeyt (Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga), Albie Hawea (Hikoi Charitable Trust), Sam Christie (Āwhina Whānau Services) Peeni Henare, Waylyn Tahuri-Whaipakanga (Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga), Lum Tahuri (Pou Tikanga, Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga). Photo: Supplied / Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga
Associate Minister of Māori Health Peeni Henare was in Heretaunga (Hastings) yesterday to visit some of the providers.
The new services are informed and anchored by mātauranga Māori.
Te Taiwhenua o Heretaunga is running one of them - named after Hiwa-i-te-Rangi, one of the stars in the Matariki cluster.
It will be run in conjunction with Kahungunu Executive in Wairoa.
Its chief executive Waylyn Tahuri-Whaipakanga said it was becoming a big change for whānau.
"These are the first two services I've known in my career of 25 years where someone can walk in the door, with a mild to moderate issue or problem, and see someone straight away."
She said it was a big improvement on how things were beforehand.
"There was a lot of barriers in our contracts, they had to either go to the DHB [district health board] or see clinicians.
"This way we can get some kaimahi [staff] out who know the whānau and can get into homes, and start supporting people right from the coal face. There's no barriers or there's no criteria, if you're unwell or you have a little bit of stress or some distress you can come here and I'm so glad. We've been crying out for this in health for over 30 years."
Āwhina Whānau Services Incorporated and Hikoi Koutou Charitable Trust are also running mental health services in line with kaupapa Māori, which were supported by the government's fund.
The services were funded through the government's Budget 2019 $455 million investment into health care.
Henare said he was in Hastings today, as it was a "five year" budget plan and some of these services were new.
He was aware of the difficulties whānau had faced in the past, he said.
"For low to moderate stresses, the mental well-being challenge in regions like this is huge. So making sure we can support those services to reach people is what we're here to do today."
While some of these services are new, some have been in train for a year or so. Henare said the providers would help Te Aka Whai Ora - the Māori Health Authority - develop more services.
"What this gives us an opportunity [to do] is to continue to explore kaupapa Māori health services, in particular mental health services, and how Te Aka Whai Ora can support those into the future."
But finding the right kind of kaimahi or any kaimahi at all, was still a big challenge, Henare said.
That would be a big focus for Te Aka Whai Ora, he said.
"There's some good intentions, lots of goodwill but there just aren't enough either qualified or kaiāwhina positions that are being filled, so we need to work on a clear strategy and that's not just the case here in Ngāti Kahungunu and this rohe, it's the case across the country."
Some Māori and Pasifika patients in Te-Matau-a-Māui have struggled to get good support from mainstream providers in the past.
It is hoped these new services will make for a more positive experience for tāngata whaiora - a term used for patients which pertains to a deeper understanding of people seeking a path forward, in line with Māori well-being.